Two plans to respond to increasing humanitarian needs in Mozambique has been launched by the United Nations and the Government’s National Institute for Disaster Management.

The first call on to the international community to support Mozambique and protect that hardest-hit by multiple shocks, including the humanitarian consequences of COVID-19, as well as recurrent droughts, floods and the increasing violence in Cabo Delgado Province, has been done by Myrta Kaulard, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Mozambique.

The UN calls up for a financial contribution to support the health condition in Mozambique threaten by natural disasters and COVID-19

The call is based on the request of over US$103 million to support the Government-led response to provide life-saving and life-sustaining assistance. Million of people are experiencing critical needs and severe humanitarian conditions, and who would not be able to withstand also health and economic impact. The COVID-19 Flash Appeal and the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 focused on this topic.

In particular, Mrs Kaulard explained that the plan prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable, including people living in poverty, people with disabilities, those living with HIV, the elderly, displaced population and people at-risk communities.

Luísa Meque, Director-General of the Government’s National Institute for Disaster Management assessed that the aim is to alleviate the suffering of those who are experiencing additional hardship due to COVID-19. “In particular those who are still recovering from Cyclones Idai and Kenneth”.

Over natural disasters, the problem of violence in Cabo Delgado, a Rapid Response Plan

Out of $68 million appeal, $16 million would be addressed to the health sector, and $52 million to food security, livelihoods and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors.
About the violence in Cabo Delgado, a new Rapid Response Plan has been set up and asks for $35.5 million and will prioritize the urgent needs. This is because the area experienced a beginning of armed attacks in October 2017 have escalated significantly since January 2020. This is leaving tens of thousands of people without adequate access to food, water, sanitation or any basic services.

Mrs Kaulard continues saying that people are completely exhausted and in desperate need for humanity and solidarity. Kaulard recalls, “I call on the international community to come together and to timely and generously support the people of Mozambique by responding to these two appeals”

Cyclone Nisarga has hit the Western Coast of India and its power pushed the country in requiring the dispatch of 45 teams of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force).

MUMBAI – The regions od Maharashtra and Gujarat have been harshly hit. by Cyclone Nisarga. The teams of National Disaster Response Force India are now working for putting in safety roads, buildings and help people facing this natural threat.

Cyclone Nisarga, the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force Teams in India

On 3 June, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a high alert in coastal regions of Western India in order to warn people of the area.

The Deccan Herald reported all the steps of this emergency response. Tonight, 20 NDRF teams have been dispatched around Mumbai and the deployment of the teams was the following:
1. Mumbai 7 teams
2. Raigad 7 teams
3. Palghar 2 teams
4. Thane 1 team
5. Ratnagiri 2 teams
6. Sindhudurg 1 team

According to the official press release of the National Disaster Response Force, other 16 NDRF teams have been deployed at coastal areas of Gujarat. 1 team each has been deployed at Gandhi Nagar, Bharuch, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Anand, Bhav Nagar & Kheda, 2 teams at Navsari, 3 teams at Surat whereas 4 teams at Valsad. Besides, 2 additional teams are kept as a reserve at NDRF Base Vadodara, Gujarat.

2 teams each have been deployed in Daman (Daman & Diu) and Silvassa (Dadar & Nagar Haveli) amid of cyclonic storm Nisarga. All teams are on the alert mode in their respective locations.

National Disaster Response Force Sh. Satya Narayan Pradhan, Director-General, is closely monitoring the situation round the clock and is in close touch with various authorities/stakeholders.

Indore and Ujjain authorities, in the western part of Madhya Pradesh, are preparing to deal with the impact of Cyclone Nisarga, which, according to IMD is hitting the region today.

For the next two days, the cyclone will hit this area and the National Disaster Response Force will be ready to face any condition and support population. On social media, the authorities of Indore and Ujjain divisions are preparing the alert communications for citizens in order to spread the correct behaviors during this weather alert.

A control room has also been set up by the Indore Municipal Corporation to deal with effects of the cyclonic storm, it was stated.

After the first coronavirus case confirmed in Iraq (24 February 2020) the ICRC continued to provide care. The Red Cross teams are keeping on striving in order to both ensure that its existing humanitarian programs are not jeopardized and adjust responses. Here is how they are providing healthcare response in conflict zones, like in Iraq.

After the first coronavirus case confirmed in Iraq (24 February 2020) the ICRC continued to provide care. The Red Cross teams are keeping on striving in order to both ensure that its existing humanitarian programs are not jeopardized and adjust responses. Here is how they are providing healthcare response in conflict zones, like in Iraq.

Authorities of Iraq are adopting increasingly stringent measures to avert further spread of the virus. This is ok, but often not enough to be efficient. As the crisis progresses, the ICRC (International Committee of Red Cross) is striving in order to both ensure that its existing humanitarian programs are not jeopardized in the mid to long term and adjust its healthcare response in conflict zones.

Healthcare response in conflict zones, coronavirus situation in Iraq

Iraq as many other conflict zones has a very precarious healthcare system and it is under pressure like never before because of the coronavirus pandemic. In this period Red Cross is recalibrating its support to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS), which remains in the lead within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement when it comes to complementing the government’s response to health emergencies.

What is ICRC doing in Iraq to support healthcare response to the coronavirus?

In order to help the health structures in this conflict zone (Iraq), the ICRC is supporting the country by the fulfilment of vital functions while limiting exposure risks for both patients and staff. Here is what ICRC is providing in Iraq:

18 PHCCs and two hospitals as well as 15 Physical Rehabilitation Centres (PRCs) with soap and disinfectant, personal protective equipment (such as gloves, gowns, and goggles), and non-contact infrared thermometers

coronavirus awareness and prevention sessions for nearly 500 staff in nine PHCCs and one hospital

23 additional handwashing points are about to be installed in 12 PHCCs, one hospital, and 2 PRCs

Healthcare response in conflict zones, coronavirus in Iraqi jails

Thousands of detainees in Iraq are at high risk of being infected by the coronavirus. Prisoners are a part of the population which is very vulnerable, especially in facilities that may be overcrowded. They may face poor hygiene or lack of ventilation. These are situations that can make start a coronavirus outbreak. Not only coronavirus, but the fear is also that other diseases can come through and coronavirus could sneak inside the jails without problems.

Accordingly, the ICRC provided guidance on preparedness and response measures, through a dialogue with detaining authorities. Very important is to draw on its long-standing expertise in the management of contagious diseases in prisons. ICRC is also keeping on providing support to six prison clinics where projects to improve health care for detainees are ongoing, implemented jointly by the ICRC, the Ministry of Health, and the Iraqi Corrections Service.

ICRC is now donating soap and disinfectant, personal protective equipment (such as gloves, gowns, and goggles), and non-contact infrared thermometers to a total of 45,000 detainees in Iraq.

Lack of safe water for displaced communities. ICRC coronavirus healthcare response in Iraq

Therefore, a serious problem is the healthcare response to displaced communities in conflict zones, like Iraq. Coronavirus does not stop just because there are vulnerable people. So, the ICRC is working hard to give access to clean and safe water to nearly 19,000 people this year. They are now upgrading two additional water supply systems serving 20,000 people. This will ensure an improved sanitary environment and help increase the resilience of this population in the face of the current coronavirus outbreak.

SOURCE

]]>Typhoon Vongfong is hitting the Philippines, but concern is for coronavirus infectionshttps://www.emergency-live.com/civil-protection/typhoon-vongfong-is-hitting-the-philippines-but-concern-is-for-coronavirus-infections/
Fri, 15 May 2020 08:48:49 +0000https://www.emergency-live.com/?p=20859

The Typhoon Vongfong is pointing the Philippines heartland out. Hundreds of thousands of people must be evacuated, but the coronavirus pandemic is complicating efforts to move these people.

The Typhoon Vongfong is pointing the Philippines heartland out. Hundreds of thousands of people must be evacuated, but the coronavirus pandemic is complicating efforts to move these people.

Because of Typhoon Vongfong threat, many people in the Philippines are heading to evacuation centres, but he problem of coronavirus infection is always there, since the centres cannot guarantee the correct social distancing. It is hard to enforce as a strong typhoon pummeled through its eastern provinces.

Typhoon Vongfong and the coronavirus threat: the Philippines brought to its knees

Typhoon Vongfong, the first to hit the country this year, intensified after slamming into the eastern Philippines on Thursday afternoon, packing winds of 155 kilometres per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 miles per hour), the state weather bureau said in a bulletin.

Provincial and city governments, many of which are already strapped for resources due to the outbreak, are grappling with logistical and space issues, with an estimated 200,000 people needed to be moved from their homes in coastal and mountainous areas because of fears of flooding and landslides.

“This is really a nightmare for us here,” Ben Evardone, governor of the Eastern Samar province stated, “Our problem right now is where to squeeze our people, while making sure they practice social distancing”.

With an average of 20 typhoons every year hitting the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, the challenges faced by stretched-thin local governments offer a grim preview of disaster response in the time of coronavirus.

Vongfong: the typhoon in the Philippines during the coronavirus

The typhoon was forecast to move northwestward and hit Luzon, the country’s largest island that includes the capital Manila, which remains on lockdown.

Images shared on social media showed the powerful typhoon bringing intense rain and violent winds in areas along its path, toppling trees, knocking out power and destroying homes.

In the town of Buhi in the province of Camarines Sur, hundreds of evacuees were given face masks before they were allowed in the evacuation centres.

Mark Anthony Nazarrea, a public information officer at Buhi, said the local government turned two more schools into temporary shelters to enable better social distancing.

There were no reported cases of the new coronavirus in Buhi, Nazarrea said, but “we want to minimise the risk”.
Classrooms that used to accommodate eight families during disasters are now housing only one to two families, he said.

The novel coronavirus has killed 790 people in the Philippines since the first local transmission was recorded in March, and infected close to 12,000.

Italy is reacting. Everyone is facing Covid-19 emergency. The thank you goes to everyone who is taking care of health in all the hospitals of the country, especially in the North. Coronavirus emergency is serious but Italy is facing it with efforts and preparedness.

Italy is reacting. Everyone is facing Covid-19 emergency. The thank you goes to everyone who is taking care of health in all the hospitals of the country, especially in the North. Coronavirus emergency is serious but Italy is facing it with efforts and preparedness.

And a sort of health levy starts from Milan: the decision of the last few hours, announced by the Regional Welfare Councilor Giulio Gallera, is to convert a building dedicated to events and shows, to a temporary hospital to take care of patients affected by coronavirus disease. Almost 600 beds to be used for intensive care.

The facility will be set up in six days. Hence the natural link with the response of the Chinese government in the Covid-19 epicenter, Wuhan.

Coronavirus, the answer passes from nurses, social workers and doctors

However, one of the longest-running problems concerns the medical-health personnel: a decade of cuts and “optimizations” has seriously jeopardized the possibility of responding adequately to the situation, and many Italian regions are preparing hiring plans or calls to retired nurses. or otherwise employed elsewhere.

In the new hospital building, 1,200 nurses will be spread over the various shifts, but a request for help has always been necessary for the ever attentive and ready Civil Protection, which in turn is organizing itself. The contribution of interns and new graduates is also essential.

Covid-19, the country’s answer

To which, however, it will be necessary to provide an adequate number of masks and gowns, which is another problem on the table. Not only of the latter, actually: spontaneous strikes by workers are multiplying in Italian factories, who do not feel adequately protected in the performance of their work. A theme not too distant from what thousands of nurses and Oss live, real men and women from the trenches of this health war in full swing.

In the meantime, the coronavirus arrives in other parts of the world, and there are many nations that observe our country with a more attentive look and, in some cases, less than enough.

The situation is changing, everyone is working hard: all that remains is to observe whether this will lead to sufficient positive effects.

Iveco Defence Vehicles awarded a contract to deliver a new generation of medium multirole protected vehicles to Dutch Armed Forces

September 12, 2019. BOLZANO – Iveco Defence Vehicles, a company of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI), announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to provide 1275 medium multirole protected vehicles denominated “12kN”.

The acquisition is part of the Defence-wide Replacement Programme of Wheeled Vehicles (DVOW – Defensiebrede Vervanging Operationele Wielvoertuigen), with deliveries from 2022 through 2026. The Iveco Defence Vehicles’ MTV – Medium Tactical Vehicle, is designed to combine high tactical 4×4 mobility, optimal off-road performance and high crew protection, together with an excellent payload capability. Outstanding modularity and system integration capabilities are guaranteed across all range variants such as hardtop, soft top, pick up, casualty transport and personnel transport, in order to support all different Military users, from Army to Marines, Navy, Air Force, Special Operational Units and Military Police.

High reliability, ease of maintenance and low through life cycle costs were core requirements during the design of MTV, guiding the choice of the main assemblies towards components with proven performance and reliability over many millions kilometres in the most diversified and demanding environmental conditions.

Over the years, Iveco Defence Vehicles has delivered many vehicles to the Dutch Army from its wide commercial and military product range such as the Iveco Stralis 6×2 long haulage lorries, the Trakker 8×8 for the Army’s Fire Department and the EuroCargo 4×4 delivered to the Dutch Marines for the Caribbean territories.

This award represents an important milestone in the consolidation of the strategic partnership between the Dutch MoD and Iveco Defence Vehicles, confirming once again the leadership of the company in the multirole vehicle segment for defence and homeland security missions. Iveco is a brand of CNH Industrial N.V., a World leader in Capital Goods listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CNHI) and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario of the Borsa Italiana (MI: CNHI). Iveco Defence Vehicles is dedicated to delivering innovative automotive and protection solutions to meet the needs of military customers worldwide. The company manufactures specialist logistic, protected and armoured vehicles in its facility in Bolzano in Northern Italy, as well as marketing Iveco’s full commercial range, adapted as necessary to meet the demands of the military user. In consequence, Iveco Defence Vehicles has a full range of vehicles to meet a broad spectrum of defence applications.

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) is a global leader in the capital goods sector with established industrial experience, a wide range of products and a worldwide presence. Each of the individual brands belonging to the Company is a major international force in its specific industrial sector: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr for tractors and agricultural machinery; Case and New Holland Construction for earth moving equipment; Iveco for commercial vehicles; Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus for buses and coaches; Iveco Astra for quarry and construction vehicles; Magirus for firefighting vehicles; Iveco Defence Vehicles for defence and civil protection; and FPT Industrial for engines and transmissions. More information can be found on the corporate website: www.cnhindustrial.com

The ICRC’s Missing Persons Project is pushing to enforce activity on missing persons. Amman, Jordan (ICRC) – A two-day meeting to discuss how to improve the search for missing people, including victims of enforced disappearance, began today at the Dead Sea in Jordan with the participation of more than 50 experts and representatives of victims from […]

The ICRC’s Missing Persons Project is pushing to enforce activity on missing persons.

Amman, Jordan (ICRC) – A two-day meeting to discuss how to improve the search for missing people, including victims of enforced disappearance, began today at the Dead Sea in Jordan with the participation of more than 50 experts and representatives of victims from around the world. The meeting, taking place on 3 and 4 September, is jointly organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Bern-based organisation Swisspeace.

Improve search for missing ones in 69 States

“From our long experience, we know how much families need to know what happened to their loved ones,” said Caroline Douilliez, head of the ICRC’s Missing Persons Project. “This meeting comes at an opportune moment, given the adoption by the United Nations Security Council in June of Resolution 2474 on missing persons in armed conflict, co-sponsored by 69 States. Together we can work towards improving the search for missing people by sharing best practices and creating better guidelines and technical recommendations.” In April, the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances adopted the Guiding Principles for the Search for Disappeared Persons, an essential milestone in these efforts. Participants will discuss how these principles can help guide the search for people who have gone missing for reasons other than forced disappearance, and how key points – such as the need to involve families or the importance of starting the search immediately – can best be put into practice.

SAR and bureaucratic procedures are different, not the goals

“The Guiding Principles represent a significant step towards clarifying obligations around the search for people who have been forcibly disappeared. Determining how the principles can be implemented and identifying best practices will be key to improving search procedures in different contexts,” said Lisa Ott, head of Swisspeace’s Dealing with the Past programme.

“In the Middle East, the burgeoning number of missing people is the result not only of the more recent conflicts in Syria and Yemen but also of the unsolved cases from past conflicts, such as those in Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Lebanon,” said Jürg Montani, head of the ICRC’s delegation in Jordan. “And their families suffer terribly. Less than a week after the International Day of the Disappeared, the Jordan meeting is a reminder that we should spare no effort to make progress on this issue for their sake.”

Innovate in how to collect and share information on missing people

The ICRC Missing Persons Project is a four-year initiative to create a global community of practice and shared technical standards to tackle the issue of missing people better and support their families. The meeting in Jordan follows workshops hosted in Antigua, Guatemala, in May and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in July. The workshops focused respectively on collecting and sharing information about missing migrants and on supporting the families of the missing. Swisspeace is a practice-oriented peace research institute. Together with a consortium of civil society organisations funded by the European Union, the Dealing with the Past programme helps the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances raise awareness of their Guiding Principles and drives discussions on how to put them into practice.

Training for water rescue dogs, or lifeguard dogs, is very important in order to save lives. All over the world dogs have always been essential for rescuers.

Water rescue dogs have been known and used for a long time in rescue missions. In this general category, there is a specific rescue dog unit, which does not deal with research through the smell, but it includes an act of physical support to the rescuer as a primary objective.

Liferescue dogs are therefore not the only to work, but precisely the pair dog-trainer. This is because the dog understands and executes the commands of his trainer and helps him/her in recovering the injuried or the person with difficulties in the water, as a mission.

What do water rescue dogs do?

Water rescue dogs are divided into rescue units that support Civil Protection and Sea Guard. Initially, water rescue dogs were Newfoundland dog and Labrador. Over the years, the names of “lifeguard dogs” or “baywatch dogs” have been wasted. But the development of studies on canine education and the real abilities of the various breed has meant that hundreds of dogs of other races have become operational.

Training is very important. It allows a dog and their trainer to become a real team, with a relationship that guarantees work in the water in harmony and safety.

Lifeguard dogs swim to the person who requests for help, ensure the bather in difficulty, bring one or more people to the shore at the same time, working on both short and long distances. Some units are trained to operate in helicopters or carry out rescue operations onboard rescue vehicles.

Which are the right liferescue dogs?

In all rescue areas, dogs play a very important role in supporting patients and rescuers. This is possible thanks to their physical qualities, their will and their skill to execute precise orders given by the trainer. We are used to learning about Newfoundland dogs as the main breed as lifesaving dogs.

It is a powerful dog, able to tow more people at the same time (even boats, if necessary), a resistant dog. It is able to swim for many hours and for long distances, insensitive to cold, so immediately operational. He is a calm dog, able to reassure even a bather in difficulty and in an anxiety crisis after the risk of drowning. In the end, it is a tenacious dog, who wants to carry out his mission at any cost.

Civil protection is one of the main themes of INTERSCHUTZ 2020 (postponed by 2021). It has been covered at previous shows, but what's different about the season is that it will feature at its own dedicated display.

Civil protection is one of the main themes of INTERSCHUTZ 2020 (postponed by 2021). It has been covered at previous shows, but what’s different about the season is that it will feature at its own dedicated display.

INTERSCHUTZ will host Civil Protection manufacturer in a special Hall.

Hannover, Germany – Civil Protection Services are facing many challenges because of climate changes. In many countries, the demand for new technologies is running high. Equipment as well as services, and networking are challenging the players involved. “Civil protection is something that affects us all, and each of us needs to give it the attention and personal commitment it deserves,” said Christoph Unger, President of Germany’s Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), adding: “This also means investing in new technology and promoting technological advancement.”

Design the future of the Resiliency

In 2021 professionals, directors and volunteers will see more innovations than ever at INTERSCHUTZ. Purpose-designed vehicles and vehicle equipment, technical assistance and support equipment and disaster relief solutions, including alternate care facilities, mobile hospitals, emergency generators, water treatment solutions and civil protection measures for natural disasters will be on the stage of the most important exhibition in the world regarding emergency services. Among the many big-name providers who have already registered exhibition space in Hall 17 are Elmag, Grizzly, INHAG, Kärcher Futuretech, Lanco, Mast-Pumpen, MFC, NRS, SHG Spechtenhauser and Tinn-Silver.

They will be joining numerous rescue services institutions and organizations who will also be putting their stamp on the hall’s dedicated civil protection showcase. Among them will be the German Federal Defense Forces (Bundeswehr), the European Commission and the German Ministry of Education and Research.

The best panorama of the best practice for efficiency in Civil Protection.

Also represented –in the form of a closely coordinated showcase – will be three key German agencies: the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the German Lifeguard Association (DLRG).

The BBK will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Germany’s air rescue services and will mark the occasion by exhibiting the full range of key rescue vehicles as well as a civil protection helicopter. Other key themes to be covered include individual emergency preparedness and resilience, international BBK projects, CBRN defence and the new Geokompetenzzentrum. The THW will be joining forces with the DLRG to present the EU’s joint “Flood Rescue Using Boats” emergency response module.

Germany’s Workers’ Samaritan Federation (ASB), Red Cross, St John Ambulance and Malteser Hilfsdienst organizations will also be showcasing their civil protection services – however, not in Hall 17, but rather at their central pavilions in Hall 26.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is of critical importance when it comes to civil protection. Doctors, emergency rescue services personnel and crisis intervention specialists are among the types of professionals typically involved in rescue operations. That’s why the lead theme for INTERSCHUTZ, “Teams, Tactics, Technology – Connected for Protection and Rescue”, is particularly relevant to the fair’s rescue showcase.

“Modern technology of the kind we will be presenting at INTERSCHUTZ is critically important, but so too are the people who will need to use this technology,” said BBK President Christoph Unger. “In our national civil protection system here in Germany, those people are the frontline personnel in the fire services, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief and other first-responder organizations.

Private-sector organizations also play an important role. In order to respond to crises and disasters effectively, all of these agencies, organizations and parts of government need to collaborate – and ideally, that collaboration should be established before the crisis or disaster in question happens.”

Civil Protection themes, and much more about EMS and Rescue.

That’s where the latest digital technologies offer promising potential. “The civil protection sector has not been paying enough attention to the implications and benefits of digitization,” explained Albrecht Broemme, President of the THW.

“I’m hoping INTERSCHUTZ will change that. We need to do more – especially on the R&D front. There needs to be more collaboration between researchers and developers on the one hand and technology users and providers on the other.”

INTERSCHUTZ is unrivalled in its track record of fostering domestic and international collaboration. “International partnerships are becoming an increasingly important part of rescue, given the global nature of the challenges facing us,” said Unger. “That’s one of the messages we will be conveying at INTERSCHUTZ. We will use the show to profile our international cooperation projects and to offer them as a model for further projects.”

Civil protection themes will also feature prominently in INTERSCHUTZ conferences including the two-day “Transcending Borders” Civil Protection Symposium to explore cross-border cooperation among rescue agencies, as well as several lectures to be given at the joint International Summit for Rescue and Emergency Services and Civil Protection.

For instance, the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) will present papers about its organizational realignment in response to the changing threat environment, accommodation of frontline personnel called up for catastrophic incidents, innovative water treatment systems, the use of hydrogen technologies at incident sites, and the agency’s organizational resilience.

Protective helmets are essential, especially for EMS workers and Fire Safety Professionals. Both responders require specific headgear, and we can highlight the most important models to evaluate for your employers.

Both responders require specific headgear, and we can highlight the most famous models to evaluate for your employers. The protection from falling objects is a requirement for workers that face unsafe scenarios. Ambulance crew that operates on a car accident are at risk. Firefighters that have to run inside a burning house are at risk. Civil Protection volunteers that are giving aid to people after natural disasters are at risk too.

The subject of protective headgear is increasingly on the agenda amongst rescue workers. Statistics around accidents highlight that lack of appropriate protective headgear has compromised persons health or even life. Here we are not talking about sports, but more generally in any situation that exposes the most delicate part of our body – the head – to the risk of violent impact.

American research carried out by NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, concluded that EMS workers are exposed to a high level of danger. Ambulance professionals are often involved in accidents while moving the patient. With this in mind, the ambulance van is designed down to the last detail to reduce damages to anybody inside it, be they patient or worker. But you have to think about the most crucial part of the patient handling: the outside.

What are the main requirements for a safety helmet?

Since injuries and fatal injuries to the head are widespread, the NIOSH institute is promoting amongst rescue workers and paramedics inside ambulances the use of a protective, non-encumbering and light helmet.

The device leaves the ears free to allow the use of a stethoscope, but this is not the only important features that this kind of helmets have.

The American company Arasan has produced a model with these characteristics. It is the EMT-1 Paramedic Helmet, B2, FMVSS218 certified according to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Many companies are producing helmets that comply with European and American standards.

This kind of device, for SAR, HEMS, and dangerous scenarios, have the following requirements:

Retractable Eye Protector

Resistant shell in kevlar fibreglass or polyurethane

Warranty on impact liners

Headband

Size adjustment strap for a comfortable fit

The helmets must comply with international requirements, like NFPA 1951, EN 443, CE marks.

Working with a helmet inside an emergency vehicle will require a change of attitude, which might not be automatic. If you think that in many categories, especially in sports, the concept has gradually caught on, the issue may become more prevalent also in the EMS.

In the meantime, there are already many organisations which require the use of a helmet during rescue operations, from the Red Cross to Civil Protection units and, obviously, the Fire Services around the world.

Some example of Helmets for Rescue Professionals?

Some helmets, for example, offer a high level of protection and can be used in a variety of emergencies. By equipping them to several standards, they can be used for the requirements of water and rope rescues, technical rescues and search operations in urban areas, natural environments and ambulances.